Health Care Reform and Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed by Congress, and then signed into law by President Obama on March 23,2010. On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, and the law becomes effective on January 1, 2014. As we approach annual enrollment, and the launch of the mandatory federal and state exchanges, we want you to know that Dartmouth College's sponsored medical plan comply with all required ACA provisions. As a Dartmouth employee, if you are benefits-eligible and enrolled in a College medical plan, your coverage will exceed the ACA-mandated coverage requirements

Later this month, all Dartmouth College employees will receive a notice called the "New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options and Your Health Coverage." Please watch your Hinman mailbox for this notice.

Below is a chart outlining the new ACA requirements and how they relate to Dartmouth College:

Health Care Reform (Notices for 2013)

Dartmouth

Federal and state online health insurance marketplaces will hold open enrollment beginning October 1, 2013. Employers are encouraged to distribute the Department of Labor (DOL) notice about health insurance.

Dartmouth College provides comprehensive medical insurance to all eligible employees and their dependents that meet affordability requirements. We will distribute the Department of Labor notice about health insurance exchanges in October.

Health Care Reform Provisions (effective January 1, 2014)

Dartmouth College

Beginning January 1, 2014, most Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. This is called the "individual mandate."

As long as you are eligible for, and enroll in a Dartmouth College medical plan, you are covered. We will continue to offer affordable and comprehensive medical plans to our employees.

To be considered qualified coverage under the ACA, a health plan has to provide a minimum level of coverage called "essential health benefits."

Our medical plans currently meet or exceed the minimum level of coverage required.

No limits on essential health benefits. This means that an insurance company cannot set lifetime dollar limits on how much it will pay for essential health benefits.

Our medical plans currently meet or exceed the level of coverage required.

Waiting periods cannot exceed 90 days. This is the period of time that must pass before employer-sponsored health insurance starts.

New hires are eligible for benefits on their date of hire.

Our health plans already include many of the mandatory ACA requirements, such as covering adult children through age 26, free preventive care, reducing or removing annual or lifetime limits on essential health benefits, and the $2,500 cap on health care flexible spending account contributions.